JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL: CLICK TO READ MORE"Oral corticosteroids, such as prednisone, or intravenous corticosteroids, such as methylprednisolone, may be prescribed to shorten the duration and reduce the severity of attacks.

Your doctor may prescribe interferon beta-1b or interferon beta-1a injections, a form of biological therapy, to treat MS. These medications are synthetically engineered to be identical to a naturally occurring protein and reduce the frequency and severity of attacks by altering many of the body's immune responses. Alternatively, your doctor may prescribe glatiramer acetate injections to modulate the immune dysfunction in MS. The choices among these therapies are complex and usually require the assessment of an MS specialist.

Your doctor may prescribe antispasmodics or tranquilizers, including diazepam or baclofen, to relax spastic muscles and provide pain relief, or antidepressants to treat associated depression.

A variety of medications may be administered to treat incontinence, frequency, hesitancy, and other bladder-control problems.

Try not to become overheated. Avoid excessive sunbathing, heavy exertion, and hot baths, and obtain prompt treatment for fevers; a raised body temperature may trigger or worsen symptoms. Taking a cool shower, swimming, or sitting in an air-conditioned room may relieve the severity of symptoms during an attack.

Pursue a program of moderate exercise to help keep muscles as flexible and strong as possible.

Physical and occupational therapy may help patients adjust to muscular and sensory changes.

Psychological counseling may help patients and their families cope with depression and the lifestyle changes imposed by MS.

Be wary of unproven remedies, such as bee venom."